Film holder and tray.



L. R. PLOSS.

FILM HOLDER AND TRAY.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1909.

1 1 88,824. Patented June 27, 1916.

w fiZeLSLSG'SI K206711107 5%4 d Jada LOIS ROSMOND PLOSS, OF HORNELL, NEW YORK.

FILM HOLDER AND TRAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed November 20, 1909. Serial No. 529,136.

To all whom it may concmn Be it known that I, LOIS R. Press, a

citizen of the United States, residin at Hornell, in the county of Steuben and tate of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Film Holders and Trays; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention is an improvement in devices for developing photographic films, and its primary object, stated broadly, comprehends the production of an extremely simple holder to which the ends of the film or films are attached, after which the device may be operated by hand in such a manner as to pass the exposed portions of the film back and forth through the developing bath. This object is attained by the production of a holder com arising a pair of handles each provided with a series of suitable clips attached thereto at intervals, the connection between the handles being effected by the films themselves, the ends of which are directly engaged by the clips.

In conjunction with the aforementioned holder, the invention comprehends the production of means for retaining a portion of the film or films submerged at all time in the developing bath, thereby insuring the direct contact of the liquid with the film or films during the manipulation of the holder.

The invention resides, therefore, first, in the holder itself, and secondly, in the filmretaining means associated therewith, and it is to be noted in this connection that there is a positive cooperation between these two elements since the provision of the latter element enables the former to be operated effectively and in the proper manner.

A practical embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of said invention complete; Fig. 2 a vertical section through the handles of the holder, showing the manner in which the films are attached thereto; Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view of the developing tray, showing the dis position of the retaining rod with respect to the films; and Fig. 4 a longitudinal sectional view of said tray, illustrating the mounting of the abovementioncd rod.

Reference being had to said drawing and to the characters marked thereon, A indicates in a general manner the holder, and I) the developing tray, of which two elements'the device as a whole consists, as already stated.

The holder A is composed of a Pair of handles 5 of suitable material, shown in the present instance as in the form of rods. Each of these handles has secured thereto a. series of clips 6 arranged at intervals apart from each other. The clips may be of any desired construction, but are preferably in the form of spring-pressed pins, so called. Any number of these clips may be employed. according to the length of the handles. All of the clips are arranged in the same manner, with their jaws preferably depending below the handles, as shown in Fig. 1. The clips are preferably pivotally attached to the handles by rivets 5 so that one or more of them may be swung toward either end of the handles out of the way in case a wider space is required between them to accommodate a Wider film, and the clips so turned being held up by frictional engagement with the handles or otherwise.

The two handles are designed for mutual connection by the films themselves, which are indicated by the numeral 7, the ends of the films being directly engaged by the depending jaws of the clips. By reason of this fact it will be evident that the films may be regarded as suspended from the holders, and that the number of films so at tached is limited only by the number of clips, it being understood that the arrangement of the clips is the same upon both handles. It will also be apparent that there is no restriction necessary as to the width of the films, nor is it essential that all of the films have the same width, since where one film is of appreciably greater width than the others, each end of such film may be engaged by two or even a greater number of clips if found necessary or advisable. In any event it will be found that the films are perfectly supported by the handles, when attached thereto in the manner above described, and that they will be held against curling to an injurious degree.

It is desirable, however, that all -curling of the films be prevented, and that they be held in a perfectly flat condition during their subjection to the developing bath, and also during their subsequent washing and other treatments. To effect this result, the tray B which contains the bath is provided with a retaining rod 8 arran ed longitudinally thereof and located sull'iciently close to the bottom to be at least partially submerged in the liquid, there bein however space enough between the rod an tray bottom to permit the films to pass freely therethrough. The retaining rod is hinged at one end to the adjacent end wall of the tray by a suitable hinge 10, and its opposite end may, although not necessarily so, as shown in the present instance, have a detachable connectlonwith the other end wall of the tray through the medium of a clamp 9 of any ordinary or preferred type.

In the operation ofthe invention the films are suspended'from the holder, and their lower portions allowed to drop into the liquid inthe tray, the retaining rod having previously been raised, as will be understood. The rod is then lowered, thereby submerging a portion of the films in the liquid. Finally, the development, or other treatment of the films, is efiected by raising the handles of the holder alternately, so as to cause the films to pass first in one direction and then in the other beneath and against the rod, which latter maintains them perfectly fiat during such passage, prevents any curling or buckling, and insures their complete contact with the developer or other fluid. In attaching the films to the holder, their sensitized sides are arranged lowermost so as to obviate their being scratched or otherwise injured in passing around the retaining rod, which latter is preferably circular in cross-section.

Further description of the invention, its advantages and mode of operation is considered unnecessary in view of the foregoing.

Having described my invention, and set forth its merits, what I claim is 1. A film developing apparatus comprising a developing fluid holding trough, oppositely disposed companion members each capable of movement laterally to and from and vertically past each other, and each provided with a series of clips to enable a number of looped films to be connected to both of the companion members, one end to one clip and the other end to the opposite clip, a looped film connectin one of said members to the other, and a 1211' connected to the developing fluid holding trough, and arranged to pass through the loops of the series of films suspended from the oppositely disposed comanion members, substantially as describe 2. A film holder comprising members provided with fastenings for suspending films therefrom, said fastenings being pivotally connected to said members and adapted to be swung into inactive position one in relation to the other to vary the space between various fastenings to accommodate films of different widths, substantially as described.

3. A film developer device comprising a developing-bath tray, a film holder comprising oppositely disposed acting handles adapted for conjoint manipulation each formed to clasp one end of a series of independent loo )ed films arranged tandem lengthwise oi the handles, saidhandles be ing adapted to be moved in vertical planes past each other and also laterally toward and from each other, one handle being connected to the other by a looped film and a rod hinged at one end to the tray and arranged to be lowered into the tray within the folds of the films suspended from the oppositely disposed handles of the film holder to guide the series of films and prevent them from curling and lapping one over the other in the vertical and lateral movement of the film holding handles, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOIS ROSMOND PLOSS.

Vitnesses:

\VILLIAM E. \VALDoRF, J r., MARTIN H. \VnIoi-rr. 

